The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-21
February. but the Telegram Was Regard
ed Fraudulent and Was Not Obeyed.
The Supreme Court to Determine the
Responsibility of Bank Directors.
Commissioner Sparks Asks that Texas County
Officers Be Warned Against Meddling with
Lands in the Indian Territory,
THE SEIZED sEALERS.

Their Release Was Ordered Last Winter, but
the Order Was Not Obeyed.
NEW York. Oct 20.-A Washington special
to the Herald says that Secretary Bayard was
seen at late hour, last night IN regard to the
alleged apology to Canada for the delay in
leasing the seized Canadian sealers in Behring
Mr.. Bayard said: I'm February last the
President of the United States ordered the
lease of those British vessels seized in Behring
sea for alleged violation of the laws of the United
States regulating the capture of furs. The fact
that he mad ordered the release at once
communicated to the British minister at the cap
ital. who, under the instructions of his govern
ment, had inquired concerning the matter. with
in a week, whether these vessels had been ~
leased in accordance with the Presidents ORDER
On inquiry at the Department OF Justice it was
found, to the surprise of the Secretary of State,
that, owing to some misapprsheusion or iniscon-
ception Of the Presidents order. the vessels had
not been released. The Departments of Justice
immediately renewed the order for their release.
and the fact OF this renewal Of the orders of the
President, made in February last, was at once
communicated to the British minister, with
expression of regret that the first order had not
been peremptoriIy obeysd. No other apology
communication whatever to the British govern-
ment or to Canada has been made upon this sub
ject"
.'Those who have watched the controversy since
the first seizures, in August Of last year. the
Minister of Justice thinks. can not but have been
struck with the vast amount OF contradiction on
the part of the United States authorities Long
after the intelligence of the seizure of the Car
olina. the Onward and the Thorn ton reached the
Canadian government, the Washington authori-
ties. according to tbs published correspondence
waiting for authentic information from
Alaska. Repeated demands were made by the
imperial government for a statement of the in
Cf Aa n flto nnQn and
finally. in February of that year. came the order
of the Attorney general for the release of the
vessels. How the order of the government was
disobeyed by the officials Of the United States
government in Alaska has been already pub
lished. In the American press Mr.. Rayard's
attention has during the intervening months.
been called to the conduct of the Alaska officials,
and, although in an interview with newspaper
correspondent in Washington. he denied that ~
possible for United States officer not te
carry out the wishes and orders Of the govern
ment he evidently had had a contrary view
forced upon his mind"
The correspondence between the Department
of Justice and its officers inAiaska, in regard to
the release of the British vessels seized during
the summer o: 1886 for alleged violation Of the
seal fishery laws. was made public to day. This
following is the text of the telegram directing
the reease:
WASHINGTON. Jan. 26 1887.
TO Judge Lafayette Dawson and NJ. D. BalIekus At
torhey. Sstka. Alaska;
I directed by tho President to instruct you te
discontinue all fur ther proceedings in the matter c.
and Thornton. and discharge all vessels held
der such seizures and release all that may bl
under arres. in connection herewith
A. II. GARLAND. Attorney-General.
This was followed by letter from Bartor
Atkins, United Sta>es marshal at Sitka, dated
Sept 20, 1887. in Which he ack owledged the re-
ceipt of the above iegrasn. but SAYS that there
it considered fraudulent dispatch, not
withstanding which oelief, however, Judge
Dawson had delayed further rroce sdings in this
and had written to the department. for
further Instructions the matter. Judge
Dawson's letter has not been received she
department and under date of Oct. 2. 1857. this
Attorney general sent telegram to Marshal
Atkins, at Sitka, granting him leave Of absenca
to 60 to San Francisco for the purpose Of selling
about 2 600 fur skins, which condemned
and ordered sold by the court in A Alaska last
year. and which reported being in a
perishable condition. The telegram concluded
follows:
Let the vessels Carolina. Onward and Thornton BE-
released ordered in my telegram of the 26th OF
January.
Then under date of Oct 15, 1887. the Attor.
ney-general mailed a letter to Marshal Atkins,
in which he said:
That there may be n misunderstanding to the
meaning of my telegram the 18th inst. to you, ]
repeat the instruction to release the vessels Caro-
lima Onward and Thorn ordered be released by
my telegram to Judge Dawson and Attorney Ball
dated Jan. 26 last.